Popul Vuh

   The Creation Legend of the Quiche Indians was fortunate in having escaped the destructive efforts of the Spanish conquerors. It may be said to be a reflection of the myths, not only of the Mayas, but to some extent of the Aztecs, and is of considerable assistance in arriving at an interpretation of certain of these. The name means ‘The Book of Written Leaves’, and it is divided into three parts. The first part deals with the creation of pre-diluvial man, his destruction by the wrath of the gods, by flood and by fire. There is also a section in this part dealing with war of the gods against the giants but this seems to have got out of place as the personages concerned, Hunapú and Xbalanqué, are only born in the middle of part two.

   Some of the stories about Blue-Jay resemble those in the Popul Vuh. Part two tells the story of the death of Hunhunapú and Vukub-Hunapú at the hands of the rulers of Xibalba, the Cavern World of the Quiches, and the avenging of these deaths by Hunapú and Xbalanqué. The third part deals with the arising of present-day man and his origin in Tulan-Zuiva. In common with the myths of many of the American tribes the Popul Vuh is vitally concerned with caverns, and it would seem that at some remote period of natural disaster the ancestors of these races were forced to live in caves as places of refuge for several generations. The adventures of the brothers in Xibalba appear to relate to initiation ceremonies carried out in these places. Other references mentioned are Camazotz, Chimalmat, Gucumatz, Hunapú, Huncame, Hunhunapú, Hurakan, Tohil, Tulan-Zuiva, Votan, Vukub-Caquix, Vukubcame, Vukub-Hunapú, Xbalanqué, Xibalba, Xmucane and Xpiyacoc, and Xquiq.